Handle structure for article carriers



' Filed Aug. 4, 1965 Nov. 8, 1966 H. w. FORRER 3,283,948

HANDLE STRUCTURE FOR ARTICLE CARRIERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FVGI INVENTORFIG. 2 HOMER w. FORRER ATTO RNEY Nov. 8, 1966 H. w. FORRER 3,283,948

HANDLE STRUCTURE FOR ARTICLE CARRIERS Filed Aug. 4, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTOR HOMER W. FORRER ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,283,948HANDLE STRUCTURE FOR ARTICLE CARRIERS Homer W. Forrer, Jonesboro, Ga.,assignor to The Mead Corporation, a corporation of Ohio Filed Aug. 4,1965, Ser. No. 477,123 4 Claims. (Cl. 220-113) This invention relates tohandle structures for article carriers, and more particularly tomultiple-ply handle structures having panels foldably joined at each endof the carrier and extending inwardly of the carrier into overlappingrelationship.

One type of handle structure for article carriers which has been usedextensively, utilizes a pair of handle panels foldably joined to eachend of the carrier and extending toward each other into telescopedoverlapping relationship. The handle panels are secured together in facecontacting relation so as to form a composite handle structure. Anexample of this type construction is found in US. Patent2,537,452Forrer, owned by the assignee of this invention.

Another similar handle structure incorporates a pair of handle panelsfoldably joined to each end of the carrier, the handle panels at eachend being secured to each other in side-by-side relationship rather thanin telescoped relationship. This type of construction is normallyconsiderably weaker than the telescoped arrangement due to the fact thatit is necessary to utilize slits which form lines of separation betweenthe handle panels at each end of the carrier.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a handle structureof the side-by-side type which approaches the telescoped type of handlestructure in strength and sturdiness.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an improved handlestructure for side-by-side handles wherein the ends of certain handlepanels are configured so as to provide an overlapping relationship whichgreatly enhances the strength, sturdiness and stability of the handlestructure.

The invention in one form as applied to a handle structure of theside-by-side type comprises a main exterior handle panel joined at oneend thereof to one end of the carrier and a complementary exteriorhandle panel joined at the other end of the carrier. The inwardlyextending ends of the main and complementary exterior handle panels arearranged in overlapping relationship due to the particular configurationof the inner end edges of such panels. If desired, considerable strengthmay be added to the handle if a reinforcing panel is foldably joined tothe main exterior handle panel and folded into fiat face contactingrelation therewith and secured thereto. Where the article carrierprovides for two rows of packaged articles, i.e., where the handlestructure is disposed medially of the carrier, there would of course betwo sets of main and complementary exterior handle panels, one mainpanel extending from one end of the carrier and the other main panelextending from the other end of the carrier. Similarly, thecomplementary handle panels would extend from opposite sides of thehandle and from opposite ends of the carrier. In this way, the carriermay be formed from a symmetrically formed blank.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a set-upcarrier embodying the invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view of a blank fromwhich the carrier depicted in FIG. 1 is formed andin which FIGS. 3, 4and represent successive gluing and folding operations through which theblank depicted in FIG. 2

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is manipulated, FIG. 5 representing the completed carrier in collapsedform.

With reference to FIG. 1, the numeral 1 designates one side wall, whilethe numerals 2 and 3 designate end wall panels at one end of thecarrier. The numerals 4 and 5 designate end wall panels at the oppositeends of the carrier and the remaining side wall is designated by thenumeral 6. End wall panel 2 is foldably joined to side wall panel 1along fold line 7, while end wall panel 4 is foldably joined to theopposite end of side wall panel 1 along fold line 8. In like fashion,end wall panels 3 and 5 are foldably joined to opposite ends of the sidewall panel 6 along fold lines 9 and 10, respectively. A bottom panel 11is foldably joined to the bottom edge of side wall 6 along fold line 12.Bottom panel 11 is provided with a medial fold line 13 at the ends ofwhich a pair of notches 14 and 15 are formed. A glue flap ofconventional construction is identified by the numeral 16 and isfoldably joined to the bottom edge of side wall 1 along fold line 17.

For the purpose of securing the end panels at each end of the carrierinto a composite end structure and also in order to provide means foradjoining the handle structure according to this invention to the bodyportions of the carrier, conventional riser panels are provided and inthe drawings are designated by the numerals 18, 19, 20 and 21. Riserpanel 18 is foldably joined to end panel 2 along fold line 22 whileriser panel 19 is foldably joined to the end panel 3 along fold line 23which is disposed in coincidental relation to fold line 22. Likewise,fold lines 24 and 25 are provided at the other end of the carrier andserve to interconnect riser panels 20 and 21 with end panels 4 and 5,respectively.

Conventional partitioning strips are provided in order to form aplurality of article receiving cells on each side of the handle panel.Such strips in the drawings are designated by the numerals 26, 27, 28and 29. Strips 26 and 27 are foldably joined to the center portion 1A ofside wall 1 along the respective fold lines 30 and 31. Likewise,partitioning strips 28 and 29 are foldably joined to the elevated centerportion 6A of side wall 6 along the fold lines 32 and 33, respectively.Of course, the structure as described thus far is conventional.

Panel structure according to this invention comprises, at one end of thecarrier, a main exterior handle panel 34 which is foldably joined to theriser panel 18 along fold line 22 and to the partition strip 26 alongthe fold line 35. Complementary exterior handle panel 36 is foldablyjoined to riser panel 19 along fold line 23 and is foldably joined topartition strip 28 along fold line 37. A reinforcing panel 38 isfoldably joined along medial fold line 39 to main exterior handle panel34. In accordance with one facet of the invention, reinforcing panel 38is separated from complementary handle panel 36 along the slitdesignated by the numerals 4t), 41. It will be understood that the slit40, 41 could constitute the two elements which are disposed angularly toeach other or if desired a single angularly disposed or irregularlyconfigured slit could be provided.

In order to provide hand gripping apertures in the finished handlestructure, a pair of apertures 42 and 43 are provided in the reinforcingpanel 38 and in the main exterior handle panel 34, respectively.

The handle structure at the other end of the carrier is identical tothat just described and comprises a main exterior handle panel 44foldably joined to riser panel 21 along fold line 25 and foldably joinedto partition strip 29 along fold line 45. In addition, complementaryexterior handle panel 46 is foldably joined to riser panel 20 along foldline 24 and to partition strip 27 along fold line 47. Main handle panel44 and complementary panel 46 are foldably joined to each other alongmedial fold line 48. As before, a reinforcing panel 49 is provided andis foldably joined along the fold line 48 to the main exterior handlepanel 44. In accordance with the invention, the complementary exteriorhandle panel 46 is separated from the reinforcing panel 49 by a slitidentified in the drawing by the numeral 50 and 51. As alreadyexplained, the slit 50, 51 may be a composite structure as shown or mayconstitute a single straight line. Furthermore, if desired, this slitcould be arranged in some irregular configuration.

For the purpose of providing a hand grip for the carrier, a pair of handgripping apertures 52 and 53 are formed in the reinforcing panel 49 andthe main exterior handle panel 44, respectively.

In order to form the carrier from the blank depicted in FIG. 2, anapplication of glue is first made to the blank as indicated by stipplingin FIG. 2. Following the application of glue, the end panels 4 and 5together with riser panels 20 and 21 are swung upwardly and toward theleft along the fold lines 8 and 10. When so folded the blank appears asdepicted in FIG. 3. During this folding operation, the handle structurecomprising main outer panel 44, reinforcing panel 49, and complementaryexterior handle panel 46 swing upwardly and to the left to occupy aposition of partial overlapping relationship to the main handle panel 34with the part of the complementary exterior handle panel 46, which isimmediately adjacent to the diagonal fold line 50, disposed immediatelyabove in overlapping relationship with the upper right hand corner ofmain exterior panel 34. In this manner, these panels are securedtogether and constitute a sturdy composite handle panel extending end toend of the carrier. The reinforcing panel 38 is subsequently swungupwardly and over along the fold line 39 into face contacting relationwith the main exterior handle panel 34 and with a portion of the panel46, so that a secure reinforced structure is provided. If desired,reinforcing panel 38 could be folded fiat against panel 34 before panel46 is swung over to the left and panel 46 could beslipped under panel34. Such a folding operation exposes the line 50 as shown in FIG. 5.During this operation, main handle panel 44 is afiixed at its lower lefthand corner to the complementary exterior handle panel 36. If desired,the corner of panel 44 could be slipped under panel 36 so as to capturepanel 36 between panels 44 and 49. Simultaneously, the reinforcing panel49 is folded downwardly along the fold line 48 into fiat face contactingrelation with the main exterior handle panel 44 and, of course, theriser panels 20 and 21 become affixed to the complementary exteriorhandle panel 46 and to the main exterior handle panel 44, respectively.Upon completion of this operation the blank appears as depicted in FIG.3.

In order to affix the riser panels 18 and 19 to the main exterior handlepanel 34 and to the complementary handle panel 36, an application ofglue is made as indicated by stippling in FIG. 3. Thereafter, the riserpanels 18 and 19 are swung upwardly and toward the right along the foldlines 22 and 23 and thereafter occupy positions as depicted in FIG. 4.

In order to complete the carrier, glue is applied to the blank asdepicted by stippling in FIG. 4 and thereafter the blank is folded alongthe medial fold lines 39 and 48 by swinging forwardly and upwardly alongthese lines of the side wall structure 1, end panels 2 and 4, mainexterior handle panel 34 and the complementary exterior handle panel 46and associated structure so that the glue flap 16 is thus secured to theedge of the bottom panel 11 and so that reinforcing panel 38 is securedin face contacting relation with the reinforcing panel 49. The lowerleft hand corner of the main exterior handle panel 44 is deposed inoverlapping relation with the complementary handle panel 36 due to theangular disposition of the slit 40,41. Thus a secure junction betweenmain exterior handle pantfil 44 complementary handle panel 36 is formed.Upon completion of the folding operation along the lines 39 and 48, thecarrier appears in collapsed form as depicted in FIG. 5.

In order to set up the carrier as depicted in FIG. 5 to the conditiondepicted in FIG. 1, it is simply necessary to press inwardly on the endpanels 2 and 3 and if desired 0n the bottom panel 11.

In order to maintain the carrier in set up condition, a plurality oflocking notches 52-55 are formed respectively in the riser panels 1821.Of course, when the folding operation along the medial fold line 39, 48is performed notch 52 coincides with notch 53 and in similar fashionnotch 54 coincides with notch 55. These notches in the riser panelssimply engage the notches 14 and 15 in the bottom panels and hold thecarrier in set up condition in known manner.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, it will be understood that the invention is not limitedthereto and that it is intended in the appended claims to cover all suchmodifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope ofthe invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Handle structure for an article carrier comprising a main exteriorhandle panel joined at the outer end thereof to one end of the carrier,the inner end edge of said main exterior panel being generallyvertically disposed, a complementary exterior handle panel joined at theouter end thereof to the other end of the carrier along a substantiallyvertical fold line, the inner end edge of said complementary exteriorhandle panel being diagonally disposed with respect to the outer endedge thereof and the inner end of said complementary handle panel beingsecured in flat face contacting overlapping relation to at least a partof the inner end of said main exterior handle panel and one end of saiddiagonally disposed innerend edge of said complementary exterior handlepanel being approximate registry with the inner end edge of said mainexterior handle panel, and an interior reinforcing panel having an innerend in substantial coincidence with the inner end edge of said mainexterior handle panel and foldably joined to the upper edge of said mainexterior handle panel and folded into fiat face contacting relationtherewith.

2. Handle structure for an article carrier comprising a first mainexterior handle panel joined at the outer end thereof to one end of thecarrier medially thereof, a first complementary exterior handle panelfoldably joined to said first main exterior handle panel along the upperedges thereof, said first complementary exterior handle panel beingnarrower than said first main exterior handle panel with the fold linetherebetween being adjacent the outer ends thereof and the inner endedge of said first complementary exterior handle panel being diagonallydisposed relative to the outer end edge thereof, a first reinforcinginterior panel foldably joined to said first main exterior handle panelalong the upper edges thereof and the fold line therebetween extendingfrom the inner end of said first main exterior panel for a portion onlyof the length thereof and said first reinforcing interior handle panelbeing disposed inwardly of said first complementary exterior handlepanel, one end edge of said first reinforcing interior panel being insubstantial coincidence with the inner end edge of said first mainexterior handle panel and the other end edge of said first reinforcinginterior panel being in substantial coincidence with the inner end edgeof said first complementary exterior handle panel, a second mainexterior handle panel having its outer end joined to the other end ofthe carrier medially thereof, and a second reinforcing interior panelfoldably joined to said second main exterior handle panel along theupper edges thereof and the fold line therebetween extending from theinner end of said second main exterior handle panel for a portion onlyof the length thereof, said first and second reinforcing panels beingsecured together in fiat face contacting relation and being disposedbetween and secured to said first and second main exterior handle panelsrespectively and at least parts of the inner ends of said second mainexterior handle panel and of said second interior reinforcing panelrespectively being disposed interiorly of at least a part of said firstcomplementary exterior handle panel in overlapping relation thereto.

3. Handle structure according to claim 2 wherein a second complementaryexterior handle panel is foldably joined to the upper edge of saidsecond main exterior handle panel adjacent the outer end thereof withthe inner end edge thereof disposed diagonally relative to the outer endedge thereof and wherein said second complementary exterior handle panelis exterior to said first main exterior handle panel and to said firstinterior reinforcing panel and in overlapping relationship With at leastparts of the inner end edges thereof respectively, one end of saidsecond reinforcing interior handle panel being in substantialcoincidence with the inner end edge of said second main exterior handlepanel and the other end edge of said 20 second reinforcing interiorpanel being in substantial coincidence with the inner end edge of saidsecond complementary exterior handle panel.

4. Handle structure according to claim 2 wherein one end of each of saiddiagonal end edges of said complementary exterior handle panels is inapproximate registry with the adjacent inner end edge of one of saidmain exterior handle panels.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,537,615 1/1951Arneson 220l11 2,919,829 1/1960 Forrer 220-115 3,202,313 8/1965 Wainberg220113 3,203,585 8/1965 Wood 22011l X FOREIGN PATENTS 663,694 5/1963Canada.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner.

1. HANDLE STRUCTURE FOR AN ARTICLE CARRIER COMPRISING A MAIN EXTERIORHANDLE PANEL JOINED AT THE OUTER END THEREOF TO ONE END OF THE CARRIER,THE INNER END EDGE OF SAID MAIN EXTERIOR PANEL BEING GENERALLYVERTICALLY DISPOSED, A COMPLEMENTARY EXTERIOR HANDLE PANEL JOINED AT THEOUTER END THEROF TO THE OTHER END OF THE CARRIER ALONG A SUBSTANTIALLYVERTICAL FOLD LINE, THE INNER END EDGE OF SAID COMPLEMENTARY EXTERIORHANDLE PANEL BEING DIAGONALLY DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO THE OUTER ENDEDGE THEREOF AND THE INNER END OF SAID COMPLEMENTARY HANDLE PANEL BEINGSECURED IN FLAT FACE CONTACTING OVERLAPPING RELATION TO AT LEAST A PARTOF THE INNER END OF SAID MAIN EXTERIOR HANDLE